What's going on and when will we open?

Our building is nearing completion. Construction should wrap up before Thanksgiving. Our furniture begins to arrive in December and installation happens in January. We will also begin moving in books, AV materials, and computers in January. We hope to open in February, so check this site in a few weeks for more information. Meanwhile, here are a few pictures from this week.

September 2008

The month started with Gustav and continued with Ike. I'm happy to report that the facility withstood the winds and the rains. The rain that followed slowed down outside progress a bit, but much progress has been since August.

So when will we open? That seems to be the question everyone is asking. We anticipate the construction to be complete sometime in October and hope to accept the building in November. We will then spend time moving in furniture, computers, book collection and staff and hope to open early in 2009. The landscaping bids open this Tuesday (September 23rd).

The traffic signal at Johnston/Duhon (the library's intersection) is now operational and the road will be open by the time the library opens. (Currently you can access Duhon Road only to get to Giles Nissan/Volvo.)

Mike - the auditorium chairs were being installed on Friday. I hope you enjoy viewing those photos.

This photo show includes pictures from the monthly site meeting on September 9th and from a site visit on September 19th.


If the slideshow doesn't work on your browser, you can view the individual photos at
the Picasa Web site

August - week 2

Carpeting has started. Progress continues on the interiors. Remaining outside work - some bricklaying, painting, and paving - is being done around the rains.

First week - August 2008

Carpet, paint, wall coverings, millwork, glass, bricks... The various subcontractors are doing their part to make this a wonderful library for the Lafayette Parish community.

Landscaping will be bid out in August. The Furniture bids will open on August 12th. We are eager to see the finished product!

Enjoy the slideshow below from photos taken during the site visit of August 7th.

Summer 2008

Interior and Exterior work on the South Regional Library continues during the summer. The construction is still on schedule for a Fall 2008 completion. Landscaping, furniture, technology, and collection will be added before the library opens.

Here's a photo and a slide show from today's site visit. Enjoy.

Exterior nearly complete

Construction continues in May 2008. The Foundation was poured in Fall 2007. Construction should be complete by late Fall 2008. After construction is complete, we will move in furniture, equipment, and books. This process will take several months, and we are, barring any major delays, planning a late 2008 opening.

Library Board / Building Committee members and LCG Councilmen Bruce Conque (Library Liaison) and Keith Patin (District 8) viewed the construction progress this month.

A privacy fence will separate the Library and the neighboring Palms Subdivision. The Library Site will also be nicely landscaped. Enjoy these pictures from site visits during May.

April 2008 construction photos

Enjoy this slideshow of pictures from the April 11th and April 24th site visits. Interior drywall has started to go up. Brick work is almost complete.

March

Progress continues on the new library. We've had several heavy rain days, but we hope the building will be roofed, bricked, and with most of the windows in by the end of March or early April.

I heard on the radio the other day that all the road work causing one-lane and traffic delays around Johnston and Duhon was due to the library construction. While the road work, including the finishing of Duhon Road Extension from Johnston to Robley Drive (extension) will benefit everyone visiting the library, the road project is a separate project that was in the works before the site was purchased for the new library.

This is what the facility will look like from Duhon Road (the entrance).

This is what the facility will look like from Johnston St.

The Sellers Group is the architect. The contractor is JB Mouton.

The slideshow (taken last week) gives you a view of the interior progress. It was a challenge getting to and from the building in the mud so there are not many exterior shots. I hope to have some front exterior pictures soon. While the interior walls won't go up until the building is enclosed from the elements, the metal wall studs are up and the rooms are starting to take shape. We are planning to open by the end of 2008.

Pictures from January 2008

Enjoy the slideshow of construction photos from January. Despite some rainy and cold days, progress continues, especially on the roofing and the exterior walls.

December 2007 - Steel, roof deck, exterior drywall

The landscape at Johnston Street and Duhon Road begins to look a bit different!

Drying out finally?

Steel and roof deck work continues during November. Exterior drywall work should begin soon.

Enjoy this slideshow of photos.

Mid-October

Thanks to Mark Bergeron with The Sellers Group (our architects) for these recent photos of the steel going up on the site. With all the rain, it is still a little sloppy for a city girl like me to get shots like this. (I don't have the appropriate foot attire.)

The entrance (view from Duhon Road)

Two of the Teens space (view from Johnston St)

Children's storytelling room (view from Johnston St)

More concrete and steel

The auditorium and meeting room area was poured this morning. The rest of the auditorium foundation will be done next week.

Some great views of the steel framing.

Steel and concrete

Steel Framing goes up on the first portion of the foundation.

The auditorium is prepared for the concrete pour.

Slab preparation work continues at the public restroom area.

Pictures courtesy of Mark A. Bergeron, The Sellers Group

Work progresses

The foundation is being poured in stages. The second pour took place today. The final pour will be the auditorium and meeting room corridor. See the end of this post for some video.

Steel is being erected on the portion of the building poured last month.

It poured ---

Concrete! The first slab pour happened this morning. Although it was HOT, the dry weather has finally allowed us to make progress. The balance of the site is being prepped. Hopefully the weather will cooperate the rest of this month.

What's going on?

We needed the rain, but it would be nice if the faucets could be turned off for about 4 weeks. The site is still being readied for a foundation - that is, in between bailing out water and waiting for the site to dry out.

The new Library will be worth the wait!

6 acres is BIG!

Today I was struck by how large our new library will be. At 37,600 sq ft, it is approximately the size of both the 1st and 2nd floors of the Main Library - but all on one level. And you'll be amazed at everything we are fitting inside.

Here's a panorama I 'stitched' together using the software that came with my Canon Powershot.

Grade beam installation and rough-in for mechanical, plumbing, and electrical continues. This is on track, despite the recent heavy rains.

Our construction sign is up - making us official!

Marching on...

Work continues readying the site for the foundation. This week, the foundation shafts are being drilled. Thanks to Adam Melancon on our staff for these photos and the panorama of the site (click on a photo to enlarge it).

Site work continues

Pad work is about complete.